Who is Dustin Boyd?

MONTREAL -- What exactly did the Canadiens get by signing the young centerman?

When the Habs shipped Sergei Kostitsyn to Nashville for the rights to goalie Dan Ellis and center Dustin Boyd, the knee jerk reaction of fans and experts alike was that it was more a matter of Andrei’s little brother no longer being in Montreal than anything else. Boyd has other plans.

A two-way center originally drafted by the Flames in 2004, Boyd spent three seasons in Calgary before being dealt to the Predators at the trade deadline this past year. Acquired to help Nashville in their playoff push last spring, the soon-to-be 24 year-old promptly led his new team in the face-off circle, winning over 58% of his draws.

Now with his third NHL team, Boyd provides the Habs with help at center in light of Dominic Moore and Glen Metropolit likely having played their last games in Montreal.

As far as Boyd’s pedigree is concerned, he did help lead Team Canada to gold at the 2006 World Junior Hockey Championship. One of the Habs who would know a thing or two about Boyd is Benoit Pouliot, who saw his Canadian teammate lead the team in scoring that year. The others are Michael Cammalleri and Roman Hamrlik who shared a dressing room with Boyd in Calgary.